Football v Homophobia – Details, episodes & analysis

The sun may have set on the masseria for another year, but don’t worry... we’ve got one of the lads from hit TV show ‘I Kissed A Boy’ season 2 right here, on the FvH Podcast!

Not only was Jordan Burrow one of our faves from this latest series, but he also showed his football credentials by donning a tangerine kit to honour footballer Jake Daniels, who’s still the only out gay player in the men’s game in England since sharing his story three years ago.

Jordan joins Jon Holmes from FvH and Sports Media LGBT+ for a chat about all things LGBTQ+ in the game, how he came out to his Man Utd-loving dad and brother, his thoughts on what smaller clubs can do to make gay fans feel more welcome, and his future plans…

Links..

Jordan Burrow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jordanburrow 

Football v Homophobia Shop - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/shop/ 

Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ 

Thank you for listening to the FvH Podcast - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. Connect with us on social media - Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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It’s party time! The Football v Homophobia campaign is in the mood for dancing because Awards Night is here once again - and this year, we’re all going to Glasgow!

This is the sixth staging of the only event of its kind, recognising outstanding achievement in the field of LGBTQ+-inclusive football - from the professional clubs setting the standard, to the fan groups that are bringing folks back to the game, to the FvH Heroes going above and beyond… their moment of acclaim is here, and we just can’t wait to celebrate.

To preview the Awards in this special episode, we’re joined by two guests who know the Scottish game inside out, and not least the city’s LGBTQ+ football scene - it’s Amanda Aitken and Megan Thomas from The Sideline podcast.

Since it started in May 2024, Amanda and Megan’s pod has quickly become a must-listen, mixing big interviews with the likes of Tessel Middag and Elaine C. Smith, alongside truly nourishing natters with grassroots champions like Glasgow Pride Community Football, Cathkin Blazes, Glasgow Saints, to name but a few.

If you’re hitting play before Awards Night on Friday 7 March, consider this your essential preview (and if you haven’t yet bought a ticket, hurry! Link below)... if you’re late to this episode, fear not, as there’s still loads to enjoy, as The Sideline duo spill the beans on podcasting, their own club Camp Hellcats FC, their dream guests, and much more.

Links..

The Sideline Podcast - https://podfollow.com/1749278705 

The Sideline on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_thesidelinepodcast/ 

Buy FvH Awards Night tickets! - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/football-v-homophobia-awards-night-2025-tickets-1216203149359 

FvH Awards 2025 shortlists - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/football-v-homophobia-awards-2025-shortlists-announced/ 

Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ 

Thank you for listening to the FvH Podcast - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials.

We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter / X; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can find us on Bluesky, Facebook and Threads too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ 

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It can feel like the toughest decision you'll ever make - but being true to yourself, your teammates, coaches and colleagues is the winning feeling that every LGBTQ+ person in football deserves.

On this episode of the FvH Podcast, Jon Holmes is joined by two referees for a conversation about the upsides of coming out and how to look out for others when they might be feeling down.

Dan McFarlane is a Category 1 ref taking charge of games in the SPFL. He's been out within Scottish football officiating for several years and says authenticity has been an essential part of his rise up the leagues.

Mikey Connor will be familiar to viewers of BBC reality dating show 'I Kissed A Boy' - but he's also a Liverpool FA referee at grassroots level. Like Dan, he's a member of the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective, a network group run by FvH that's bringing together those from the community who are working in the game.

In a chat with host Jon Holmes to coincide with World Mental Health Day and Coming Out Day on October 10 and 11, the two men in the middle share their stories, offer advice to other gay and bi guys who might be finding it hard to break out of the closet, and assess the challenges that are still being faced in men's football.

It's a refreshing and open conversation that can help listeners to unlock their potential, on and off the pitch - and it might just encourage you to pursue officiating as well.

Links

Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/

Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/

Mikey and Dan’s profiles on the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective (see links to their socials) - https://lgbtqfootball.com/who-are-we/ 

Dan on referee recruitment (Press & Journal) - https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/6186347/referees-encourage-new-faces-to-pick-up-the-whistle/ 

Thank you for listening to the FvH Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials.

We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter / X; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too.

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In Manchester on Pride weekend, the Football v Homophobia campaign revived a big get-together for the LGBTQ+ community in the game - an event that had previously been held online during the pandemic summer of 2020.

This time, however, it was in person and fully fabulous! At a symposium at Man Met University, queer football culture was celebrated, from the inclusive vibes of the Women’s World Cup to encouraging signs in the men’s game, from the ‘monster’ TRUK United FC story to a decade of LGBTQ+ fan groups.

We also put on a screening of short film ‘Realness With A Twist’ which tells the tale of a voguing-mad player who’s torn between the dressing room and the dancefloor; and we explored why Manchester is a magical place to make family through football.

There was also a Pride party at the uber-cool Motley bar and we marched with a Football Pride banner in the parade on the Saturday before enjoying the rest of the weekend on Canal Street.

The event was one of the highlights of the FvH calendar, and joining Sports Media LGBT+’s Jon Holmes to recap all the news and share their own stories are guests Sabah Ahmad and Adam Haworth.

Sabah spoke on the closing panel about setting up Lez Be United FC, a club for women and non-binary people that plays in Manchester’s inclusive AF League. On the pod, she explains how growing up, she could never have dreamed of the kind of connection she has with football now; why local drag bar Cruz 101 is the perfect sponsor; and what she took away from Football Pride.

At the start of 2023, Adam created Out and Out Football, a digital platform to share queer perspectives on the game. He talks about what he enjoyed as an attendee, and his outlook on LGBTQ inclusion as a Burnley fan. He also offers some suggestions about what might be good to introduce if/when (!) Football Pride comes back in 2024…

Thank you to everyone who took part - our speakers, attendees, sponsors, organisers and anyone who amplified the message.

Some links…

Lez Be United FC on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lezbeunited_fc/

Watch Cruz 101’s Barb Just Barb try out for the team in a special Pride video! - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs9BEbHoXiJ/

Out & Out Football - https://www.outandout.football/

Adam on Twitter - https://twitter.com/aahaworth 

Thank you for listening to the Football v Homophobia Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials.

We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com

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Lovers of the game are gearing up to go Down Under for the ninth FIFA Women's World Cup and with the tournament fast approaching, that's where our LGBTQ+ focus lies for a special Pride Month episode.

For the third consecutive year, the podcast is celebrating the Football Writers' Association's support for Sports Media LGBT+, with both organisations keen to send out the message that the football media industry welcomes everyone.

Joining host Jon Holmes for this chat are four fellow journalists - together they'll waltz you through a queer history of the WWC, selecting highs and lows, heroes and villains from past tournaments, before looking ahead to Australia and New Zealand 2023. On the pod...

• ESPN's Sophie Lawson, on the sometimes problematic but often wholesome storytelling that accompanies a WWC - follow @lawson_sv
• Júlia Belas, from The Guardian's Moving the Goalposts newsletter, on Brazil's trinity of trailblazers - follow @july_bt
• ABC's Samantha Lewis on the impact made by Michelle Heyman and how the Matildas can make their many fans truly proud - follow @battledinosaur
• Also with us from Sydney, freelancer and FvH Award nominee Poletti on the marvel that is Megan Rapinoe and how coverage of women's football in Oz is changing for the better - follow @ItsPoletti

The FWA welcomes industry professionals and students as members, while Sports Media LGBT+ can help you on inclusion, networking and content creation. Reach out for advice and connections!

Thank you for listening to the Football v Homophobia Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials.

We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Happy Pride!

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Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are on Twitter and within that, there's 'Football Twitter' - the sizeable cohort of users who support their clubs fiercely, who comment on the latest news and gossip constantly, and who interact with just about anything to do with the game.

'Football Twitter' (or 'FT') has also become notorious for anti-LGBTQ+ abuse and discrimination. As the platform continues to grow in toxicity and reach, it appears to be an increasingly unpleasant place to hang out for anyone who loves football but doesn't fit the 'FT mould'.

On this episode of the FvH Podcast, we're joined by broadcaster and Arsenal YouTuber Sophie Nicolaou - aka @soccerdiva - and journalist and researcher Finbarr Toesland.

Sophie tells us about her own experiences of harassment and abuse from a noisy 'FT' minority - but she also explains how she's still able to find her tribe on Twitter.

Finbarr discusses the new report he's authored exploring how LGBTQ+ journalists - including football content creators - are being targeted on social media, and his recommendations to media organisations and brands. He feels they need to understand how and why abuse happens and the effect it has on individuals.

This episode, hosted and produced by Sports Media LGBT+'s Jon Holmes, is being released to coincide with the global awareness day IDAHOBIT (the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia) on May 17, and Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK.

Show your support for FvH! Activate the campaign in your football space - just head to footballvhomophobia.com for info, downloads and resources, and how to contact the FvH team.

Links

Sophie Nicolaou on Twitter - https://twitter.com/soccerdiva

Finbarr Toesland on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FinbarrToesland

Read Finn's report: 'Are media organisations adequately protecting LGBTQ journalists from harassment and abuse?' - https://www.bcu.ac.uk/media/research/sir-lenny-henry-centre-for-media-diversity/research

IDAHOBIT - https://may17.org

Mental Health Awareness Week - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week

Thank you for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too.

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"You can't win a championship without gays!" - a quote uttered by Megan Rapinoe at the World Cup in France in 2019 that has already passed into women's football folklore.

Two years later, the simple tweet "they're lesbians, Stacey" under a picture of Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis at the Tokyo Olympics quickly took on legendary status, becoming a T-shirt slogan, catchphrase and much-loved meme.

You might think therefore that Lesbian Visibility Week - held annually around Lesbian Visibility Day at the end of April - would be well supported by the women's game, as a chance to recognise inspirational LGBTQ+ role models on and off the field.

But there has been barely any LVW messaging around the professional game, or from sponsors and influencers, or in the media, and not much mention on social media either, even though the awareness week is now well established.

For this episode of the FvH Podcast, we explore the many reasons behind that. Sports reporter Beth Fisher and FvH campaign director Lou Englefield are the guests, joining regular host, Sports Media LGBT+'s Jon Holmes.

Stereotypes, tensions, urban myths, lesbophobia, nervousness around language and the complexities of being visible… they're all factors that feature in a wide-ranging conversation.

Show your support for FvH! Activate the campaign in your football space - just head to footballvhomophobia.com for info, downloads and resources, and how to contact the FvH team. 

Links

Beth Fisher on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BethFisherSport

Lou Englefield on Twitter - https://twitter.com/LouEnglefield

Lesbian Visibility Week - https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/ 

‘Why shouldn’t two opponents kiss each other after a game?’ (Sophie Downey, The Guardian, 26 April 2023) - https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/26/why-shouldnt-two-opponents-kiss-each-other-anna-tamminen-rosa-herreros

Just Like Us research - https://www.justlikeus.org/blog/2023/04/24/lesbian-visibility-week-research/ 

Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too.

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We're back with a new episode to mark the annual Week of Action for the Football v Transphobia campaign, and helping to sprinkle some stardust on proceedings is one of TV's favourite soap actors!

Ash Palmisciano is a familiar face on the small screen having played the part of Matty Barton in Emmerdale since 2018 - it's a groundbreaking role as Matty is the first trans character in the ITV soap's history.

What you might not know, however, is that Ash is a big football fan and he's getting his boots back on for another TRUK United FC matchnight at Dulwich Hamlet FC in London on Friday 31 March, which is Trans Day of Visibility.

Last year, history was made when TRUK United fielded the first 11-a-side team of all trans women in a match in the UK; and Ash is going to be part of history too, as he'll be playing in what's thought to be Europe's first team of all trans men.

To look ahead to the game, and to discuss his passion for international football and why FvT resonates with him, Ash is a guest alongside campaign lead Natalie Washington, in conversation with podcast host Jon Holmes of Sports Media LGBT+.

Show your support! Please activate the campaign in your football space and share on social media with hashtags #FvH2023, #NoFootballWithoutTheT and #TransFootyAlly.

Links

Follow Ash on Instagram at @ash.p.x

Watch Ash's TedX talk

What happened at the FvT Week of Action launch event (Sports Media LGBT+)

TRUK United FC at Dulwich Hamlet FC, Friday 31 March 2023, from 6pm - info and tickets link

Follow Natalie on Twitter at @Transsomething

Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too.

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It’s the annual Month of Action for Football v Homophobia - clubs, leagues and county FAs are stepping up to be campaign champions, while people at all levels of the game are finding ways to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion.

On this episode, the winner of the 2022 FvH Hero Award - Cheshunt FC Women’s Hayley Wood-Thompson - joins Sports Media LGBT+’s Jon Holmes to discuss the stand-out contribution that led to her success.

Hayley, a P.E. teacher from Hertfordshire, channelled the power within her own personal story to come out via an assembly, making a significant impact in not just the school she teaches at but more widely as well.

The video she made combined LGBT+ History Month with football and was shown to pupils as far away as New Zealand. Hayley’s conversation with Jon is full of good advice for teachers and coaches who are either LGBTQ+ themselves or strong allies, and there are plenty of football anecdotes in there too, from cheering on her beloved Watford at Wembley to scoring against Arsenal in the FA Cup!

Also in this episode, we recap the launch of the 2023 FvH Month of Action which was held at Leicester City FC. Two of the event speakers - Ramsgate player Jahmal Howlett-Mundle and Wolves’ ED&I manager Gurpri Bains - pass on some useful tips that others can draw upon to make a difference in February and beyond.

Show your support! Activate the campaign in your football space - just head to footballvhomophobia.com for info, or contact the FvH team. And join us for the 2023 FvH Awards at the National Football Museum in Manchester on February 24!

Links

Miss Thompson PE on Twitter at @HWT_PE - https://twitter.com/HWT_PE

Watch Hayley’s original video - https://www.nonchalantmagazine.com/teacher-comes-for-lgbtq-history-month/

Her acceptance speech - https://www.hertsschoolsfa.co.uk/single-post/winner-fvh-hero-hayley-wood-thompson

Her op-ed on the Lionesses’ Euros win - https://inews.co.uk/opinion/womens-football-explode-euro-2022-generation-girls-talented-1768042

What happened at the Month of Action launch event (Sports Media LGBT+) - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/courage-is-celebrated-as-football-v-homophobia-month-of-action-2023-launches

FvH Awards Night tickets - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/football-v-homophobia-awards-night-tickets-510646215577

Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too.

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At Chelsea's first three games of 2023 - and in the Manchester United vs Everton tie in the FA Cup - some fans have been heard singing a chant that's depressingly familiar - "Chelsea rent boys".

The Football v Homophobia campaign is determined to help dismantle this discriminatory chant. Helping host Jon Holmes of Sports Media LGBT+ to kick it into touch on this episode of the podcast are:

• Jake Williamson, who has previously shared his experiences of being a Chelsea fan, wanting to be a professional footballer, and coming out as gay
• Jim Dolan, the founder and former co-chair of West Ham’s LGBTQ+ and allies fan group, Pride of Irons
• and Delwyn ‘Sheep’ Derrick, the founder of FC Bellevue in Wrexham whose outstanding allyship in Welsh football has been widely recognised

Jake, Jim and Sheep discuss how this chant and other instances of homophobic language have affected them and their friends in football down the years, and offer their thoughts on how to tackle the problem. There's advice for the authorities and for fans - whether LGBTQ+ or allies - who want to play their part in making the atmosphere at our stadiums more inclusive.

The first section of this episode does contain some homophobic words and phrases used in context as examples of discriminatory language. 

Additional notes - Episode 20 of the FvH Podcast from August 2021 with Tracy Brown (Chelsea Pride) and Paul Amann (Kop Outs!); 'What is the 'Chelsea rent boy’ chant and why is it homophobic?' by Will Stroude for PinkNews (Jan 2023); and 'Chelsea rent boys' chant has no place in modern football - homophobia must be treated like racism' by Emma Smith for Goal.com (Feb 2022)

We need YOU! The nominations window for the fourth annual FvH Awards is open until 20 January 2023, with 11 categories in which to show your appreciation for the clubs, fan groups, county FAs and 'heroes' helping to make the game more LGBTQ+ friendly.

Jake, Jim and 'Sheep' discuss why it's so important to recognise and celebrate our communities - including, of course, our allies - and they select some of their own personal standouts from 2022. Don't forget to nominate! Awards Night will be at the National Football Museum in Manchester on February 24, 2023.

February is also the Month of Action! Get involved!

Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too.

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